Chapter 73
-You didn’t even use the beauty trick yet, but you already got so much information from that conversation.
Was the manipulator of the same thoughts? Choi Yeonseung had to agree. Thanks to the goddess, he managed to confirm the situation on Earth.
-You intend to overthrow Earth’s constellations and become the master of Earth. Now you know how to do it.
-That’s true.
Rather than vaguely collecting all the faith on Earth, it was easier to just use the rankings. Wasn’t it just a matter of rising through the ranks by beating all the other constellations?
-... Don’t forget to gather faith and trust. What do you think made it possible for some of the constellations to get high ranks?
These constellations received the faith of millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of people. It wasn’t hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of people. It was hard to imagine how strong they would be.
-Being confident is great, but you should always be careful. We’re far from where you are, so it’ll be hard for us to help you.
-What about participating in constellation battles? Your nightmare demons should be strong enough...
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ pretends not to hear anything.]
[Even the ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ does the same.]
-......
Unlike Choi Yeonseungk, the two greedy constellations had no intention of intervening in the fierce battle over Earth and fighting using their power of existence. They were going to cheer for Choi Yeonseung and eat the profits later!
‘They’re on my side, but they’re strangely nasty!’
***\
Only around a second had passed on Earth even though he had finished fighting so fiercely in the Abyss and talking to the goddess.
“You won, right?” Hwang Gyeongryong asked with a nervous expression when Choi Yeonseung returned.
“Yes.”
“As expected! I knew it! I believed in you.”
“You didn’t look like it at all...”
Hwang Gyeongryong had always been a worrier. Despite acting as if he wasn’t on the surface, he’d be worried deep down. That hadn’t changed even though he had now become a big shot who controlled the United States.
“Sigh. I’m really glad. I kept thinking about what to do if you lost.”
“Was that what you were thinking about... ”
Choi Yeonseung was slightly dumbfounded and explained what happened. Hwang Gyeongryong laughed at the Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood, who had fallen for the trick.
“He’s such an idiot! He always has been.”
“Have you ever run into the Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood?”
“There’s no way to directly meet a constellation, but I’ve bumped into his household members or followers a few times. The evil god constellations are like mold. If you don’t stop them, they’ll keep spreading.”
In most countries, believing in an evil god constellation or signing a contract with them was prohibited, but people who followed the evil god constellations continued to appear. After all, they offered a quick and easy way to gain strength! Not many people could resist such intense temptations.
“What happens now?”
“I have to check what I got, gather our strength, and prepare for the next constellation battle. Of course, it won’t be anytime soon.”
“Ah. I can borrow your strength, then.”
“What’s going on?”
“Here’s the thing...”
Bang!
“Why aren’t you answering my call?”
“Y-You can’t do this, Miss Lawrence!”
Aine Lawrence angrily burst through the door. The restless guards tried to stop her. Hwang Gyeongryong asked in an embarrassed manner. “P-Princess. You never called me?”
“Not you, dad. The one next to you. My client.”
“Uh… Me?” Choi Yeonseung pointed at himself. His reaction made Aine furious.
“I have contacted you again and again!”
“Is that so?”
“Is that so? Is that?sooooo?! If you don’t want to work with me, then just tell me! I’ll work with someone else. Why didn’t pick up my call?”
“Um...”
Choi Yeonseung hesitated to speak. Aine paused when she saw this.
What was the reason?
“I forgot to charge my smartphone. I’m sorry.”
“......”
“......”
“I haven’t really used it...”
“... I... I see... If that’s the case, then it can’t be helped...” Aine’s anger quickly dissipated, and a feeling of defeat sank in. She had forgotten that Choi Yeonseung was an old man. She awkwardly coughed. “Well, I contacted you because you’ve been scheduled for a match.”
“A match?”
Both Hwang Gyeongryong and Choi Yeonseung were surprised. He had just participated in a constellation battle. What did she mean by another match? No, how did Aine know about the constellation battle in the first place?
“Why do you look so surprised? You passed the UHC qualifiers and became part of it. It’s only natural for you to get a match.”
“Ah. That.”
“Ahhh. It was that.”
“... ? ”
Aine looked at her father and Choi Yeonseung like they were crazy. What were these two thinking?
“Dad... Don’t tell me... You aren’t sending this guy to underground arenas, are you?”
Rather than holding safe matches in the Otherworld, underground?arenas put hunters’ lives at risk in real battles! It was against the law, but people’s desires were endless. They were steadily running in secret thanks to the rich people that wanted to bear witness to bloody duels.
“No! Who do you think I am?”
“But you used to participate in them in the past, dad.”
“?!”
Choi Yeonseung was the one surprised this time. Hwang Gyeongryong shook his hands in fright.
“No! I did participate in them before, but it was for a different purpose!”
“Wasn’t it to make money?”
“No! I sneaked in to smash the people running the underground arena! Don’t misunderstand!” Hwang Gyeongryong desperately denied it out of fear that Choi Yeonseung would mistake him for a money-crazed person.
“Yes... Hyung isn’t that type of person.”
Aine smiled slightly at Choi Yeonseung’s words. It was good to see that Choi Yeonseung believed in him. In any case, he was family. The trust between the two of them made her feel proud.
“It’s okay. Come with me.”
Her father interrupted her. “Wait. I was going to ask him to do something...”
“What happened? Is it business-related work?”
“Uh...”
“Use someone else. You have a lot of talent. Are you just going to waste them?”
Aine snapped like she didn’t understand. Hwang Gyeongryong had several clans that could be mobilized with full force aside from the Icarus clan that he was currently raising. In addition, he had enough connections to deploy A-grade hunters! So why did he want to use a busy B-grade hunter?
“Well, I… uhh….”
“It’s fine. You probably don’t have a good reason. In any case, hunter Choi Yeonseung is busy building his career right now. Ask someone else to do it.”
“Ugh.”
Hwang Gyeongryong groaned. Of course, he could just call in A-grade hunters to do it. However, Choi Yeonseung was more reliable and powerful than these A-grade hunters! In addition, the opponent didn’t know how strong Choi Yeonseung was, which meant he could produce several times the effect.
‘I can’t even say that...’
“Let’s go. I have things to explain to you.”
The moment Hwang Gyeongryong became speechless, Aine ignored him and dragged Choi Yeonseung outside.
“Contact me if it’s urgent, Hyung.”
“No... Uh... Fine. I’ll figure it out.”
He had wanted to get things easily and with little effort!
***
“Where are we going?” Choi Yeonseung asked out of curiosity. He sat with Aine in the back seat of a limousine.
“To have dinner. Isn’t it better to talk over a meal?”
“Oh. I want?gukbap...”
“... Let’s have some next time. I’ve made a reservation.”
Choi Yeonseung felt sorry, while Aine felt a bit of regret. Why didn’t she just make a reservation at a Korean restaurant?
“Are you unable to eat anything other than Korean food?”
“Huh? No. I can eat anything.”
He basically stopped being picky after spending over 10,000 years in the Abyss.
“I’m glad. You’ll like where we’re going today.”
“No matter where I go, I’ll eat anything as long as I’m treated well, but... Why are we going to the sea?”
“... Because that’s where we’re going to eat?”
Aine looked as if he was asking an obvious question.
“? ?”
He soon got his answer. Aine got off the limousine and headed for a huge yacht under the guidance of some staff members. It was like a cruise.
“Welcome, Miss Lawrence.”
“I will take charge of your weapons.”
A cruise employee greeted Choi Yeonseung politely before speaking. He was eating alone with Aine, but a hunter?entering?with weapons...
“There’s no need.”
“But...”
“It’s fine. Just show us inside.”
“As you wish.”
The moment Aine spoke, the staff member neatly stepped back and guided them inside. Choi Yeonseung suddenly felt how rich Hwang Gyeongryong had become.
‘He’s living a good life.’
I am the master of LA! It touched him more than those words.
It was hard to believe he was on a cruise ship just for a quiet dinner.
“Sit down. We should talk while eating.”
“Do you eat like this often?”
“I usually come here when I have something private to talk about.”
“I see.”
Aine didn’t seem to think this was particularly extravagant.
‘They’re living really really well.’
“This is Chef Marella of ‘Antipasto.’ She came here tonight to make dinner. Perhaps you know her name... No. Forget it. In any case, she’s a good cook.”
Aine was about to talk about how many Michelin stars this person had received and what awards she had won, but she stopped. What was the point? It just had to taste good.
“It is an honor, Miss Lawrence. Please feel free to let me know if you need anything.”
The chef greeted them politely before stepping away.
“Her abilities are good.”
“Ah. Have you heard of her?” Aine asked in a slightly expectant voice. She thought Choi Yeonseung didn’t really care about this...
“No. I can tell by her posture and aura.”
“What nonsense... Ah. Martial arts can do that?”
Choi Yeonseung shrugged. In fact, it was more like the power of a constellation than martial arts.
[You have seen through the essence of Marella Rosa.]
[You have the ‘Advanced Abyss Cooking’ skill. You can identify similar skills that the target has.]
[Marella Rosa (Not Awakened)]
[High-Class Italian Cuisine]
Rank: A-]
She wasn’t a hunter but her Italian cooking skills were A-rank. That showed how much she had honed that skill!
[You have caught a glimpse of an ordinary person’s skill. Your power of existence has risen.]
[Honing your vision strengthens your power of existence!]
“In any case, I’m looking forward to it.”
Dried prosciutto ham, salami, figs, and melons were served as appetizers, followed by herring tartar seasoned with olive oil, along with herring stuffed with apples and onions. Then came pasta tossed in a sauce made of the finest eggs, cheese, ham, salt, and pepper sauce. Afterward...
“Oh? This is great.
[You have eaten a dish made using the ‘High-Class Italian Cuisine’ skill.]
[You have achieved enlightenment!]
[More recipes are now available under the ‘Advanced Abyss Cooking’ skill.]
[......]
“!”
Most of Choi Yeonseung’s dishes could be cooked in the wild, such as raw, grilled, or steamed Abyss monster meat. His skill made them incredibly delicious, but he had few available recipes! Eating unfamiliar dishes had enlightened him, however. Inspired, he figured out how to cook them.
‘I see... I see!’
Choi Yeonseung ate in an excited manner. On the other hand, Aine looked dissatisfied.
“Does it taste bad?”
“No. That’s not it...”
Aine looked around. She was worried that the staff members would hear her.
“... It’s just boring!”
“This is? Isn’t it seasoned well?”
“There is no magic power!”
“Ah. You mean that.”
Choi Yeonseung nodded. The ingredients from the Abyss contained strong magic power. They were intense stimuli for hunters. In comparison, Earth’s ingredients had taste but no magic power!
“If you hadn’t cooked for me like that, I would’ve eaten this with satisfaction! I feel resentful.”
Aine grumbled while eating her meal.
“Shall I cook for you next time?”
“R-Really? No... That won’t do. I have to maintain a certain line with my client. Work is work. If I receive good treatment from a hunter, I will be disqualified as a manager.”
Aine shook her head and spoke firmly. Of course, she sounded full of regret.
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